NEW ORLEANS — The consistent 30-point games are history and the shooting percentage has dipped to 44.4 percent.

After a 119-107 loss Thursday to the Spurs in San Antonio, slumping Kristaps Porzingis even lobbied referees for the second time this season after he felt they missed contact opponents made on his arms when he rises for his sweet jumper.

Nevertheless, the 7-foot-3 Latvian has been a rim protector and takes solace in becoming a slightly better decision-maker when teams inevitably send the double-team. He’s OK if it means he’s not posting 30-point games.

Earlier this season, Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said the club would only become “a great team’’ when the 22-year-old Porzingis figures out when to dish to open teammates after he’s doubled.

The assists total doesn’t show yet (he’s notched more than two assists in just two games this season) but there’s progress.

“I’m still learning but I’m happy with the decisions I make,’’ Porzingis said. “Passing out of the post when the double-teams come, I’m reading defenses better. Early on, I was forcing too much. Now I’m finding the open man much more but I still have a long way to make those passes sharp [or] being able to shoot it right away. Little details. I’m not too concerned about not scoring 30 if I’m making the right play for the team. That’s what matters.”

What matters now is the Knicks (17-18) soon could be on the verge of turning into what preseason prognosticators envisioned — jostling for lottery position. The Knicks are on a four-game losing streak amidst a 16-of-20-game stretch on the road. They finish this three-game road trip Saturday in New Orleans, when Porzingis will have to deal with the Pelicans’ dominant duo of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins.

This season was supposed to be more about development. Tracking Porzingis’ progress is of utmost importance. In the five games since he returned from a left-knee injury, Porzingis’ shooting has dipped dramatically — 33 of 96 (34.4 percent).

After the Spurs’ loss, he said he’s “super mad that little touches on the elbow and arms” aren’t getting called. He said it “effects my shot so much.” However, Porzingis gives referees the benefit of the doubt, mentioning he also needs to make shots despite contact.

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It was another subpar shooting performance for Kristaps Porzingis, who...

The Knicks coaching staff isn’t worried about the missed foul calls. The coaches stress to him he needs to react decisively when he gets the ball — quick pass or shot. Holding the ball brings bad stuff. Hornacek thought Porzingis on a few occasions in the second half in San Antonio looked more decisive shooting. Porzingis finished the night in San Antonio 6 of 16 for 18 points.

“Some of the times, if he would just catch it and turn …,’’ Hornacek said. “The beginning of the third, he caught it, made a quick spin and shot it. That’s hard to challenge. When there’s a hesitation or pump fake, that’s when guys get into the body and make it harder. I was glad to see he picked up on that and started to do that in the second half.”

Porzingis fouled out in San Antonio but battled one of the NBA’s premier low-post power forwards in LaMarcus Aldridge. He also registered six blocks and didn’t back down.